Labour Court recommends income-continuance scheme for medically unfit rail staff

The Labour Court recommended on 22 April 2016 that Iarnrod Eireann establish a contributory income-continuance scheme for safety-critical staff who are found medically unfit for their roles when redeployment is not possible. The recommendation followed a dispute with the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union (NBRU), the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union (UNITE), and the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association. The Court recommended that Iarnrod Eireann fund 30% of the scheme’s cost and participating members fund 70%. The company’s cost should be considered in ongoing productivity discussions, with the contribution ratio reviewed when they conclude. The unions had sought a co-funded scheme and rehabilitation for employees who acquired a disability through illness or work injury. Iarnrod Eireann said it could not contribute because of financial constraints and handled medical-unfitness cases individually. The Court said redeployment should remain the preferred option, but did not recommend making it mandatory in every case.